Few questions due to crappy midwife service................

[evemarie8]

My midwife has gone AWOL, she wasn't really that brill to begin with but the new one I have been given is worse! Totally blunt, doesn't answer your questions properly (her usual answer is "oh you don't have to worry about that yet") and to make things worse there are no longer any antenatal or parent craft classes offered in my area!! So I am afraid you lot have become my support group and there are a few things I would like to know. Please don't laugh I just haven't come across these things before and you seem like the best bunch to ask, (most of these q's have come from reading other posts on here):

1. What does the baby becoming engaged mean and when is it expected to happen?
2. How do you know its happened?
3. Whats a "show"??
4. Does everyone get Braxton Hicks and when (on average) do they start?

I'll leave it at 4 for now but I am sure more will come to me in time!!!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[monster_munch]

1) Engageing is baby's head dropping into the pelvis ready for birth
2) I didn't feel my DD engaging, but you should feel that it is easier to breathe but will need to pee more
3) a show is the mucas that sits in your cervix preventing infection etc coming away (I THINK)
4) Everyoine gets BH's but not everyone feels them.
To me they felt like my belly went hard and as they got stronger they were uncomfortable tightenings.

 

[smurf]

I just started getting braxton hicks recently where my whole belly tightens and then relaxes and they dont hurt, but last night I thought it might be the start of something They were at the very bottom of my bump and it felt like someone had a hold of my insides and was tightening their grip and twisting at the same time - it was a little bit painful. I had a about 5 in about 2 hrs then it all settled down again. thankfully.

 

[evemarie8]

Sounds like I might already be getting small braxton hicks then without even realising it!!

Sometimes it feels just like my bump has turned to rock, and it can be quite painful!! I thought it was the baby getting stuck in an uncomfortable position!

 

[Tangerinedream]

I find braxton hicks have become more painful, the pain seems to come as my tummy is begining to relax rather than contract, if that makes any sense?

 

[monster_munch]

Sounds like I might already be getting small braxton hicks then without even realising it!!

Sometimes it feels just like my bump has turned to rock, and it can be quite painful!! I thought it was the baby getting stuck in an uncomfortable position!

Sounds like Braxton Hicks to me hun!

 

[madam bully]

Sounds like I might already be getting small braxton hicks then without even realising it!!

Sometimes it feels just like my bump has turned to rock, and it can be quite painful!! I thought it was the baby getting stuck in an uncomfortable position!

I am getting them already too so you are not alone! Rock hard tummy and feels like I can't 'bend' if you know what I mean?! I can't sit when I have one and my whole middle is too hard!